US President Donald Trump has sharply criticized the American judicial system, calling it “rigged” after facing a series of court defeats involving his tariff policies and plans related to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
In a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform, Trump claimed that the US court system was politically biased against him. He wrote that the courts were “RIGGED,” comparing them to what he described as a similarly flawed political system. Trump argued that recent rulings reflected unfair treatment and accused judges of blocking key parts of his agenda.
The latest controversy followed a federal court ruling that ordered Trump’s name to be removed from the Kennedy Center and blocked plans to temporarily shut down the institution for a major renovation project. US District Judge Christopher Cooper ruled that only Congress has the authority to change the name of the federally established cultural center, which was created as a memorial to former President John F. Kennedy.
Reacting to the decision, Trump attacked Judge Cooper personally and alleged a conflict of interest because of the professional background of the judge’s wife, attorney Amy Jeffress. Trump claimed it was “impossible” for him to receive fair treatment under such circumstances and suggested that the Kennedy Center could eventually be closed if the dispute continued.
The Kennedy Center ruling came shortly after another major legal setback involving Trump’s trade policies. Earlier this year, the US Supreme Court struck down significant portions of Trump’s sweeping tariff program, ruling that he had exceeded the authority granted to the president under federal law. The decision affected a central pillar of Trump’s economic strategy and raised questions about billions of dollars collected through import duties.
Trump has repeatedly defended his tariff policies, arguing that they were necessary to protect American industries and reduce trade imbalances. Following the court rulings, he accused judges of undermining efforts to strengthen the US economy and claimed that the country could be forced to return large sums of tariff revenue collected from importers.
The remarks have further intensified tensions between the White House and the judiciary. While Trump’s supporters argue that courts are obstructing his policy agenda, critics say the rulings demonstrate the role of judicial oversight in checking executive power. The legal battles are expected to continue as the administration explores appeals and alternative policy measures.
